Fantastic Fest 2009

Lars Von Trier rocked the Croisette at Cannes this year with his latest beautiful, visceral opus with themes on depression, insanity and arrogance. It's also got talking animals and some truly inspired horror moments.

One of the highlights of the Fantastic Fest 3D program will be a screening of exclusive footage from James Cameron's AVATAR with producer Jon Landau in person to participate in a Q&A with Harry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool News. AVATAR footage courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox.

Jess Franco directs his muse Lina Romay in this surreal story of a beautiful female vampire who consumes the sexual effluvium of her victims.

Breathless is a foul-mouthed drama that delivers an unlikely mix of pathos, brutality and humor. First-time director Yang Ik-June plays an angry thug who gets involved in a dysfunctional relationship with a high-school girl. It eventually becomes apparent that the pair are linked in ways that neither of them realize.

The criminal career of Britain's most violent and notorious prisoner is the subject of Nicolas Winding Refn's BRONSON. Originally sentenced to 7 years for a post office robbery, he reinvented himself into Charles Bronson, superstar, whose crimes behind bars have led to 34 years of incarceration (so far).

Jemaine Clement, Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess, Mike White and Sam Rockwell live in person! Following the premiere of the opening night film GENTLEMEN BRONCOS, Fantastic Fest badgeholders are invited to join the cast and crew at the exclusive afterparty at The Highball (1142 South Lamar Blvd next to Alamo South Lamar). We'll have futuristic cocktails and food, supplies to make your own popcorn sculptures, a photo diorama where you can get your picture taken on an actual Brutus and Balzaak Battle Stag, DJs spinning spacey music as well as art from the film on display. GENTLEMEN BRONCOS is the opening night film of Fantastic Fest 2009. Writer/director Jared Hess, co-writer Jerusha Hess as well as stars Jemaine Clement, Mike White and Sam Rockwell and will be in attendance. Check out the Gentlemen Broncos Fantastic Fest Page here. Following the screening of Gentlemen Broncos at the Paramount, there will some shuttle buses circulating between the Paramount and the Party. Important information about getting into this party! You MUST have your Paramount Theater ticket stub, which you will receive at the Fantastic Fest Box Office during badge pick-up. The after party is reserved for people who attend the GENTLEMEN BRONCOS Premiere. Map from the Paramount to the Highball

A space-born magic seed initiates the virgin birth of Buratino, the Estonian son of Pinocchio who quickly forms a rock band, commits terrorist acts, falls in love and gets embroiled in a maniac's plot to conquer the world. And yes, it's a musical.

Three families meet up at a country estate to celebrate the winter holidays together. Everything starts out idyllic but as the day wanes, the rambunctious playfulness of the kids takes on a sinister edge, and soon the freshly fallen snow is soaked in blood.

Based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, The Vampire's Assistant is a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires.